Fire-escape



(No Model.)

A. R. BRANDT.

FIRE ESCAPE.

110.454,32). Patented June 16,1891.

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NTTED STATES ALBERT R. BRANDT,

PATENT OFFICE;

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

Fl RE- ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 454,325, dated June 16, 1891.

Application led January 16, 1891. Serial No. 377,939. (No model.)

T0 @ZZ whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT R. BRANpT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, Oooh county, Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Fire-Escapes, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and efficient fire-escape, which when not in use may be folded up in compact form, so as to be easily transported from place to place, and so that any one traveling can carry the fireescape with him; and the invention consists in the features and details of oonstruction hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l is a vertical seetion of my fire-escape in position for use, showing the belt for attaching it to the body of the person using it. Fig. 2 is a similar View of the fire-escape folded up; Fig. 3, a detail illustrating the method of fastening the canvas or other material to the ribs, and Fig. 4L a plan view partly broken away.

In constructing my improved re-escape I first make a rod or staff A, preferably of metal and provided, as shown, with a ring A at one end large enough to admit of its being grasped by the person using the escape. To this rod I attach disks or plates B B. The plate B is attached by means of a socket-piece Zi to that end of the rod opposite to the ring A', and the plate B is attached to the rod by means of a collar b, secured thereto at any desired point above lthe ring.

To the plate B, I attach ribs O in any suitable manner, as by passing the ends of the ribs through holes in the plate, and then bending the ends back upon themselves to form rings or eyes, as shown in the drawings. I prefer to use four of these ribs; but any other number may be used, as desired or found necessary.

The body of the fire-escape is made of canvas or other suitable material, made, in the form shown in Fig. 4, in four somewhat-triangular pieces C', adapted when placed together to form a square. This canvas is placed inside the ribs, and the adjacent edges of any two pieces thereof are first sewed together beneath the rib, and then bent around such rib and sewed together above the same, 5o this form of construetion'being shown more particularly in Fig. 3.

I next construct arms D, made in two parts, jointed together in such a manner as to allow them to fold up inside of the fire-escape, as shown in Fig. 2. These arms'when in the position shown in Fig. l can bend so as to fold inside of the fire-escape, but are prevented from bending in the opposite direction by lugs or shoulders (Z. The arms are. fastened by means of rings or eyes at one end to the plate B and at the other to the lower ends of the ribs C, the number of the ribs and arms being the same. A ringE is then provided, connected by a strap E with the ring A', the strap E being preferably provided with a snap-hook adapted to engage with such ring. Straps F F are also attached to the ring E, the strap F being provided With a ring f and the strap F with a snap-hook j, adapted to engage with such ring.

My improved fire-escape operates as follows: Suppose the escape to be folded up in the position shown in Fig. 2. The person desiring to use it fastens the straps F F around his body, beneath the arms, and fastens the straps E to the ring A. This ring is then grasped firmly in the hand, and the person using the escape springs from the window or roof, or other place, holding the fire-escape in a substantially vertical position above his head. The pressure of the air opens the escape into the position shown in Fig. 1, and, supporting the greater part of the weight, allows the person to descend slowly and safely to the ground. The fireescape being fastened to the users body, even if he should let go the ring, he would still be suspended from and supported by the escape.

I claiml. In a fire-escape, the combination of a rod A, plates B B,secured to such rod, ribs C, hinged to the plate B, a body fastened to such ribs, and folding arms D, hinged to the ribs and the plate B and provided with shoulders d, whereby they are prevented from4 bending in one direction beyond a Substanconnected to the ring A and adapt-ed to be tiallystraight line, substantiallyas described. fastened around the body of the user, sub- 2. In a. iire-esoape, the combination of a stantially as described.

rod A,provded with a ring A', plates B B', ALBERT R. BRANDT. 5 fastened thereto, ribs C, hinged to the plate Witnesses:

B,abody secured t0 such ribs, mns D,hinged GEORGE S. PAYSON,

to the plate B and the ribs, and straps F F', SAMUEL E. HIBBEN. 

